37 The One Who Dreams
[You Have Died]
<Dream Sequence Has Been Disabled>
{Interference has been detected. <Dream> will not be activated}
<The Conditions Have Been Met>
{Exclusive Skill: <Nightmare> has been initiated}
[Nightmare will now commence]
"Haaa..." I exhaled, my breath visible in the chilly dawn air, a ghostly whisper in the awakening world.
Where was I? What was happening? I had no answers, only the feeling of being lost in an enigmatic void, like a wanderer in a labyrinth of uncertainty.
As I rose from the wreckage, an eerie sensation washed over me. The world had turned monochrome, like a dream.
Each step I took felt strangely weightless, as though I were treading upon the wisps of a fading memory.
Was I dreaming again?
A reddish-black aura surrounded me, pulsing intensely, like the heartbeat of some ancient, dormant power. I felt different, transformed into a character from an epic tale of old, plucked from the annals of time.
What was this? What was happening? Questions swirled within me like leaves caught in a perpetual vortex, their answers just out of reach, tantalizing and elusive.
A distant noise caught my attention. I saw five familiar yet distorted faces. In this strange place, they were simply my enemies, archetypes of opposition in the grand narrative unfolding before me.
Yes, that was their only identity in my mind.
A surge of determination coursed through my veins, overpowering any confusion or doubt. I took a step forward, my resolve unyielding.
Whether this was a dream or a twisted manifestation of my subconscious, I refused to let it hinder me.
I would fight, overcome, and emerge victorious, my resolve an unbreakable shield against the uncertainties of this surreal realm.
"Haaa...." Silhouettes swirled around me, but nothing distracted me from the formidable adversaries before me.
The distorted world seemed to yield to my will as I summoned the remnants of my strength. The reddish-black aura intensified, crackling with restrained energy, like a dormant volcano about to erupt.
I truly felt unstoppable, as if I were the embodiment of some ancient prophecy.
This world, this place, this reality—it belonged to me! In this dreamlike realm, only I could see the end.
And it was glorious, a destiny written in the stars, waiting for me to claim it.
I extended my hand, commanding the debris around me to tremble and levitate, swirling in a chaotic display of power, like the wrath of nature itself.
With a primal roar echoing through the surreal landscape, I unleashed my newfound might.
Debris transformed into lethal projectiles, hurtling toward my adversaries with unstoppable force.
The very fabric of this surreal reality quivered as my attacks tore through the monochrome surroundings, like a storm unleashed upon a barren land.
The five enemies, once formidable, were now faced with a force beyond their comprehension. Fear and disbelief contorted their faces as they struggled to defend against the onslaught.
'Yes...'
I pressed on, relentless and driven by an unwavering determination.
'... Fear me...'
Time seemed to warp, seconds stretching into eternity as I delivered blow after blow, each strike an embodiment of my will to conquer.
'... Suffer...'
Each strike was fueled by a potent mix of rage, resilience, and the desire to transcend my previous limitations.
'... Despair...'
I fought with a ferocity that defied the confines of this dreamlike realm as if I were channeling the rage of a thousand storms.
'... DIE!'
The enemies staggered, their defenses crumbling under the weight of my unleashed power.
The dreamlike landscape quivered as if acknowledging my triumph, as if the very universe itself bowed to my prowess.
'No... not like this...'
In an instant, the world reset.
I found myself back in my initial position, silhouettes still flashing and dancing around me. My opposition, seemingly oblivious to what had transpired, stood before me again.
'... REPEAT!' With a mere thought, I manipulated the very fabric of this reality.
The five apparitions before me trembled, sensing the shift in power.
Their movements became sluggish, their once confident expressions contorted with fear. They were at the mercy of my newfound abilities, mere pawns in the grand design of this altered existence.
I extended my hand, and the penthouse responded, obeying my command.
Furniture, shattered glass, and debris levitated, swirling with otherworldly energy. With a flick of my wrist, I sent the objects hurtling toward my adversaries, each projectile finding its mark with deadly precision.
The air crackled with my control, as if my will alone shaped this dreamlike realm.
Walls of energy materialized, ensnaring my foes within a cage of my creation, a prison born of my newfound power.
Their struggles proved futile, their attacks dissipating against the impenetrable barrier I had crafted, like insects futilely battering themselves against the walls of fate.
I moved with effortless grace, traversing the battlefield like a ghost. My movements flowed with fluidity, each step deliberate and purposeful. The penthouse itself became an extension of my will, shifting and adapting to suit my needs.
With a mere wave of my hand, the very floor beneath my enemies erupted, transforming into tendrils of darkness that ensnared them.
Their cries of agony echoed as the shadows constricted around their bodies, rendering them powerless.
I harnessed the penthouse's energies, channeling them through my being. Arcs of electricity danced across my fingertips, crackling with raw power. With a sweeping motion, I unleashed bolts of lightning upon my adversaries, each strike delivering a surge of agony.
The penthouse walls became mirrors, reflecting the terror-stricken faces of my foes. They bore witness to their own despair, their deepest fears materializing before their eyes.
'Do you see it? My NIGHTMARE?'
The psychological assault, combined with the physical, overwhelmed their senses and broke their spirits. Faint screams seemed to pierce the air, but my hearing had dulled to the point of incomprehension.
Only one thought consumed me.
'ENEMIES...'
[A/N]
13:43
Below is an image of Mikey actively using <Nightmare>
One by one, the five adversaries fell to their knees, dissolving into nothingness. Their cries echoed hauntingly through the shattered penthouse, a requiem to their defeat.
'You are all... my enemies.'
The reality I had crafted, a testament to my dominance, consumed them, erasing their existence.
As the last remnants of my adversaries vanished, the monochrome world shattered, revealing a blinding light beyond.
The surreal veil lifted, and I found myself standing amid the wreckage of the penthouse, the remains of my victory scattered about.
"Allocate 9 Stat Points to Life Force." My voice echoed, and the world began to blur once more.
It felt like I was waking up. No, I was dreaming. No... not quite... I was... awake this whole time?
No, I…
Uncertainty lingered, but a resolute fire burned within me.
Regardless of the nature of this encounter, I had emerged triumphant. I had overcome my enemies, shattering the chains that bound me.
"The work is done..." A gentle whisper escaped my lips as I crumbled to the ground, my strength completely drained.
The world faded to black, and I felt every ounce of my consciousness slipping away, erasing the euphoric, ethereal image etched in my mind.
It was all reverting... turning blank
<Nightmare Sequence Will Be Ending Shortly>
{Penalty fee has been collected due to the use of Exclusive Skill: <Nightmare>}
<Synchronization in process>
[You will wake up soon]
"... I won."
*
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[A/N]
Below is an image of Mikey actively using <Nightmare>
<IMAGE>
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Mikey was a menace, You gotta admit.
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